Media coverage of Donald Trump’s appearance in federal court in Miami was particularly varied, according to American television channels.
Conservatives’ favorite broadcaster Fox News on Tuesday night called Joe Biden a “budding dictator,” prompting much derision or outraged comments, while rivals CNN and MSNBC decided not to live broadcast Donald Trump’s speech following his historic indictment.
This discrepancy in media coverage of the event is a new example of the polarization of the political climate in the United States, a now-old phenomenon from which even news channels cannot escape.
“The would-be dictator speaks at the White House after arresting a political rival,” read a Fox News banner just before 9pm Tuesday night (Wednesday 01am GMT), while the screen was cut in two and on one side Images of Joe Biden inaugurating the presidency and Donald Trump in front of his supporters were seen from one of his golf courses in New Jersey.
He had previously pleaded not guilty to 37 charges against him relating to top-secret White House documents, including classified information on nuclear weapons, which he was accused of failing to return to the National Archives after his term in office ended.
The headband, which has drawn much comment on social media, appeared during “Fox News Tonight,” a new show replacing former TV star Tucker Carlson’s primetime show.
Trump’s speech will not be shown on CNN and MSNBC
Since the departure of this figure, who has become indispensable in the conservative media world and known for his radical positions and fondness for certain conspiracy theories, left the antenna at the end of April, Fox News’ attention has dwindled over this period.
For its part, CNN, like MSNBC on Tuesday night, decided not to broadcast Donald Trump’s speech live after reporting extensively on his impeachment “because frankly he says a lot of things that aren’t true and that are sometimes potentially dangerous,” he said journalist Jack Tapper told the air.
CNN has also faced a drop in its viewership and has been criticized for “rigging” the 10th presidential election of 2020.
The show had been poorly received internally, hastening the already controversial June 7 departure of CNN CEO Chris Licht.